“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“There’s everything to talk about.” He stepped closer, his voice dropping. “I just watched a car almost kill you. I felt your body under mine. I saw the fear in your eyes. Don’t tell me there’s nothing to talk about.”
“Prime—”
“You felt it too. Don’t lie to me.”
I had felt it. That electric charge when he was on top of me. That safety. That rightness.
But I couldn’t afford to feel it.
“I have to go,” I said, avoiding his eyes. “Come on, boys. Let’s pack up.”
“Zahara—”
“Thank you for saving me. But that’s all this is. Okay?”
I didn’t wait for his response. Just turned and walked back to my table, my heart pounding, my body still trembling from adrenaline and something I refused to name.
Behind me, I heard Rita say, “She’s running.”
And Prime’s response: “Let her. Won’t change anything.”
I pretended I didn’t hear. Pretended my hands weren’t shaking as I packed up my things. Pretended I wasn’t hyperaware of his eyes on me the entire time.
But I felt it. Felt everything.
And that’s exactly what terrified me.
17
PRIME
“You alright, Grandma?” I asked as I helped her into my car.
“Baby, I’m great. Honey, that was more excitement than I’ve seen in a decade. Had that drama between you and your mama, an action scene, and a little love scene,” she said, winking at me.
“You ain’t see no love between me and that girl,” I protested.
“Boy, not between you two. Between me and Earl at the smoked meats stand. While you was over there laying on top of that girl, I got me a number.” She laughed, pulling out her phone.
“Hell nah! Give me your phone right now. You too young to be talking to boys!”
She slapped my thigh. “Talking to boys on the phone is how you got here.”
“Ew. I’m putting your fast ass on punishment.”
She hit me again, harder. “Watch your mouth, boy.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am.”
“You ain’t sorry. You can apologize, but never be sorry,” she said, settling back in her seat with that knowing look she always had.
I pulled out of the parking lot, my mind still back at that market. Still seeing Zahara’s face when I was on top of her. Theway her body had felt beneath mine. The fear in her eyes that had nothing to do with the car and everything to do with me being that close.
“So you gonna tell me about her or you gonna sit there pretending you ain’t thinking about her?” Grandma Rita asked.
“There’s nothing to tell.”
